CULTURE: The Magic of Jenő Lisztes and the Cimbalom – An Unforgettable Concert Experience

Jenő Lisztesn early November, Auckland residents had the chance to witness a truly special musical event: world-renowned cimbalom virtuoso Jenő Lisztes took the stage with his concert titled Hungarian Rhapsodies, organised by the Hungarian Club. This event was not only a unique musical experience for our Hungarian community but also a rare opportunity to showcase the unmatched richness of Hungarian culture here in New Zealand.

In One of the main goals of the Hungarian Club is to introduce and promote our culinary, folkloric, and cultural values to the local New Zealand public. We are proud to say that with this event — though the organisation was bold and ambitious from start to finish — we succeeded in bringing a spotlight to our musical heritage as well.

Jenő Lisztes, the globally acclaimed master of the cimbalom, came to Auckland for one evening, bringing with him (on his iPad!) the very best of Hungarian cimbalom music, and mesmerised the audience with his performance.

The Hungarian cimbalom — a distinct instrument within the cimbalom family — is practically never heard live in New Zealand. Locals might recognise its eerie tones from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, where the cimbalom often underscores scenes involving Gollum. But for us, it means much more: it is a living part of our Hungarian culture, once heard in restaurants, accompanying songs in traditional csárdás dances, Gypsy orchestras, and eventually on grand stages.

Jenő Lisztes is a true virtuoso of the instrument, having inherited his craft through four generations on his father's side. At the Auckland concert, he presented a program that showcased the full expressive range of the cimbalom. Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy, performed as the opening piece, explored the instrument’s full tonal spectrum. Later, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, the best-known piece of the evening, swept the audience away with its fiery Hungarian flair and momentum. Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs) paid heartfelt tribute to his folk roots and family heritage, while Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee dazzled the audience with its sheer technical brilliance, earning roaring applause. As an encore, Jenő improvised on the beloved Kiwi melody Pokarekare Ana — to the delight of the crowd.

For me personally, the evening will remain especially memorable, as I had the great honour of performing Bartók’s Romanian Dances together with Jenő. He is a phenomenal musician: precise, and able to deliver a flawless performance even after just one rehearsal. What’s more, his modest, approachable, and easygoing nature made our collaboration a true joy. Not to mention his deep knowledge of Hungarian music and the countless stories he shared about his world tours and experiences playing with today’s top musicians.

After the concert, many audience members lingered around the stage, gathered close to Jenő, admiring the cimbalom and trying to hold on to the magic of the experience for just a little longer.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to making this event a reality, and to all those who supported it with their presence. The Hungarian Rhapsodies concert will no doubt remain a treasured memory for all of us for a long time to come.

Ágnes Harmath